Published December 29, 2013 The Ann Arbor News  By John Counts johncounts@mlive.com

The 20-year-old University of Michigan student who was killed in a freak freeway accident Thursday will be remembered for his musical talent and his genuine spirit, according to the friends and family.

Wooram “Ram” Choi [class of 2011] was headed down U.S. 23 to Ann Arbor from his family’s house in the Howell area for an orthodontist appointment Thursday around 4:30 p.m. when a tire from a trailer hauling a snowmobile flew off and struck Choi’s windshield, said his 16-year-old sister, Jenny Choi.

Ram Choi was killed instantly.

Michigan State Police are still investigating the incident, but Jenny Choi said investigators told her family it was just a random accident.

“They said it could have happened to anyone,” she said. “I feel like this just shows a tragic accident can happen to anyone.”

Jenny Choi said her family became worried when Ram didn’t show up to his orthodontist appointment or for dinner. They began calling police and checking hospitals. Officers eventually came to their house late Thursday night to deliver the news, Jenny Choi said.

“They said, ‘He didn’t survive,’” she said. “It felt like it was a nightmare.”

Now family, friends and the university are mourning the 20-year-old.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss and our condolences go out to the family,” said Laura Blake Jones, the Dean of Students at U-M, where Ram Choi, a 2011 of Okemos High School, was an undergraduate in the Ross School of Business.

The business student was also a member of the “The Metal Frat,” Sigma Phi, where he was the treasurer, according to the fraternity’s website.

Hardcore and heavy metal music was a big part of Ram Choi’s life, said longtime friend Zach Lantz.

The two knew each other from the Livingston County music scene.

“I met him in a mosh pit,” Lantz recalled.

Ram Choi played guitar in bands starting in the sixth grade and even toured with the metal band Gift Giver. He also recorded and produced music of all kinds as an engineer.

Lantz said Ram Choi will be remembered as a guy who lived life to the fullest.

“This kid literally lived 100 years in his 20 years,” he said. "And he had the friends to show for it. Ram literally had so many friends, it was remarkable.”

Lantz, who lives in the Grand Rapids area, said he was walking around a West Michigan mall when Jenny Choi notified him that her brother had died.

“I fell to my knees … and I wept,” Lantz said.

Jenny Choi and Lantz said their brother and friend lived a happy life.

“He was smiling a lot,” she said. “He was genuinely happy a lot.”

Lantz said Ram Choi wasn’t necessarily afraid of dying, he was the type of guy who accepted death.

“We’re just saddened by not being able to spend more time with him,” Lantz added.

There is no funeral planned at this time.

Ram Choi’s fraternity brothers, who could not be reached for this story, are planning a memorial service at a later date, Jenny Choi said.

A benefit concert is planned Sunday at the Howell Opera Theater for both Ram Choi and another young musician from the same Livingston County music scene who died in a car accident a few years ago.

A portion of the money raised will go to the Choi family. Gift Giver will play at the show.

More information is available at the Livingston Underground website.